Without You

“Did you use protection?”

“Yes, sir. I would never do that to Lex.”

His face relaxed, and he nodded his head. “Always, and I mean always, use protection in some form. Please.”

“I will, Dad. I promise you.”

The door opened, and my mother and Lex came walking out. Lex turned and hugged my mom, and my mother whispered something to her while pushing a piece of hair behind her ear.

When Lex turned and started toward me, I couldn’t really read her face. She walked up to me, and I smiled as I took her hand before leading her to the passenger side of my truck. I opened the door, and she quickly jumped in. As I walked back around, I glanced up and saw my mom and dad just standing on the porch.

“Will, please be careful driving.”

I nodded my head. “I will, Mom. I love you.”

“I love you, too, darling.”

When I got in the truck and started it, Lex grabbed my hand. I backed up, turned my truck, and headed down the driveway.

I looked at her and smiled. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

She nodded her head. “Yeah. Your mom knows.”

I let out a laugh. “So does my dad.”

“She promised not to say anything to my parents.” Lex turned and looked at me. “Did your dad say if he was gonna tell my father?”

I could hear the panic in her voice. “No, he’s not going to say anything. What did my mom say to you?”

“She asked me if you made sure I was ready and if you were gentle with me.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh God. My mother knows I had sex.” I wanted to throw up.

Lex giggled and squeezed my hand. “She told me to soak in a hot bath if I was able to.”

I looked at her, and my heart began to hurt. “Are you sore?”

She nodded her head. “Yes, but it’s a good sore.”

Lex pulled out her phone and began texting someone.

“Who are you texting?”

“Colt. I’m seeing if he is still at Luke’s house.”

About a minute later, her phone beeped. “Can you take me to Luke’s? I’ll ride home with Colt.”

“Um…sure.”

I was almost to Luke’s driveway. I put on my signal and turned in. I punched in the gate code and started down the long driveway. When I pulled up and parked, I shut the truck off. I turned to see Lex staring at me.

“You don’t regret it, do you?” she asked.

My mouth dropped open, and I pulled her over to me. She crawled onto my lap. I put my hand behind her neck and brought her lips to mine. I poured nothing but love into the kiss. It was slow, sweet, and meaningful.

I barely broke our kiss when I whispered, “I’ll never forget this night for as long as I live, Lex. You have stolen my heart forever.”

A tear moved down her cheek.

“Baby, please don’t cry. I hate to see you cry.”

She was about to say something when someone banged on the window. I turned to see Luke.

He opened the door and grabbed Lex. “Get the fuck out of his truck, Lex.”

“What? Luke! Let go of me!”

Lex pulled her arm back, but Luke pulled her out.

“Luke, stop it right now!” Grace yelled.

I took a deep breath in and let it out as I got out of the truck. I had to put myself in Luke’s and Colt’s shoes.

How would I feel if I found out one of them had slept with Libby?

I shut the door and turned to face Luke. Colt was walking out.

Lex stepped in front of him. “Colt! Stop this right now! Grace, stop your brother.”

Luke walked up and pushed me. “You motherfucker. You went forward with it? You slept with her?”

“Luke, I’m not doing this with you. You knew—”

That was when it happened. He punched me square in the jaw. Lex, Grace, and Lauren all screamed.

Libby came running up to me. “Will! Oh my gosh, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Lib. Just step back, honey.”

Luke hadn’t hit me nearly as hard as he could have.

Libby turned around and walked over to Luke. She pushed him on the chest. Luke just stood there, staring at her.

“You asshole! He loves her, and she loves him. It’s none of your goddamn business what they do!”

Luke looked stunned as he stared at Libby.

She pushed him again and then began hitting him. “He loves her! Alex is lucky to have someone love and worship her like Will does. You wouldn’t know what that is like…to love and respect someone, you prick.”